Imprinting machine



Aug. 2, 1966 WHITE 3,263,602

IMPRINTING MAGHlNE Filed Aug 31. 1.964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 v60 66 154 If IN VEN TOR.

E 0 yer Witt? HTTOIPNEYS Aug. 2, 1966 R. F. WHITE 3,263,602

IMPRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMMM HTTOENEYS Aug. 2, 1966 R. F. WHlTE IMPRINTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Aug. 31, 1964 INVENTOR. 1e ye/i? Wh te BY A T TOPNEYJ 2, 1966 R. F. WHITE 3,263,602

IMPRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

oyf? White BY FITTORIV 7S United States Patent 3,263,602 IMPRINTING MACHINE Roger F. White, Paramus, N.J., assignor to Autographic Business Forms, Inc., South Hackensack, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Fiied Aug. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 393,275 Claims. (Cl. 101-57) This invention relates to imprinting continuous strips of preprinted workpieces such, for instance, as bank checks and deposit slips.

It has become the custom to supply bank customers with personal checks and deposit slips in relatively small quantities imprinted with their names and addresses, and more recently with identifying indicia which is magnetically sensible.

A principal feature of this invention is the provision of improved means for economically imprinting with data workpieces, such as checks, deposit slips and the like, in quantities somewhat larger than those customarily required for personal accounts but not so large as those used in most commercial establishments in which all the indicia required on the workpiece is usually printed in one pass through the press. By so providing for the imprinting of the workpieces, substantial savings in time and labor can be effected by preprinting continuous strips with the indicia common to all the checks, etc. and subsequently imprinting a required number of checks with the indicia unique to a particular customer and following this with the imprinting of desired numbers of checks for other customers.

According to the present invention, this procedure is greatly facilitated by providing for the convenient and rapid removal and substitution of the printing elements containing the indicia after the required number of workpieces for each customer has been imprinted.

For this purpose, the present invention provides a conveniently located chase for rem-ovably carrying the printing elements, and this chase is so mounted that it may be swung from an operative position adjacent the face of the continuous workst-rip to a position exposing and giving easy access to the printing elements and means for removably holding the elements in the chase.

According to the present invention, the indicia-bearing type faces individual to each customer are carried by linotype or other slugs and the chase is provided with means to releasably hold the slugs and locate them in proper position so that when the chase is swung down toward the continuous strip the type faces will be in printing position.

After the desired number of workpieces has been printed for a particular customer, the type slugs are removed from the chase and preferably are stored until again required for use.

The printing operation isperformed by one or more power-operated hammers which strike the underside of the strip underlying the type element and cause transfer material from a carbon or like ribbon interposed between the type faces and the upper surface of the strip to be transmitted to the latter. The hammers are operated repeatedly in timed relation with the operation of poweroperated feeding means for the strip which is operated so as to provide a momentary dwell in the advancement of the strip at the instant that the hammers strike the strip.

A suitable counting device stops the operation of the hammers and the strip feeding means when the desired number of checks has been imprinted.

After the checks are printed, the several checks may be separated from the continuous strip and from each other and may then be bound or otherwise collected into a package.

Patented August 2, 1966 Having thus briefly described the invention, it is a principal object thereof to provide an. apparatus for imprinting data workpieces, such as checks, deposit slips and the like, having means for expeditiously imprinting such data workpieces in moderate quantities for use by individual customers, the workpieces having identifying indicia thereon peculiar to the customer and/or to a bank, etc.

It is another object of the present invention to provide data imprinting apparatus in which the identifying printing elements may be readily changed in the machine at the end of a given run or may be substituted for other printing elements without handling these elements, by substituting an interchangeable element of the machine.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide data imprinting apparatus in which one or a plurality of workpieces of indefinite length is fed into the machine, preprinted indicia on the workpieces is properly registered with the imprinting elements, and the feeding movement of the data workpieces is momentarily interrupted while the imprinting takes place in order to prevent the imprinted indicia from being either blurred or smudged.

It is another object of the present invention to provide data imprinting apparatus which is readily adaptable to printing on workpieces of varying size.

A further object of the present invention is to provide data imprinting apparatus in which there are counter means for counting the number of workpieces which have been imprinted and for automatically terminating operation of the apparatus when a predetermined number of workpieces have been imprinted.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide data imprinting apparatus having means for preventing operation of the impact producing means when the identifying printing elements are not properly locked in printing position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a data imprinting apparatus having impact producing means for striking the underside of a workpiece strip in a position underlying the printing elements, and having means for varying the impact force of each of a plurality of impact producing means in accordance with that necessary to provide a proper impression of different types of identification indicia, and further having means wherein one of the impact producing means may be rendered inoperative while the other remains operative.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the principles of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of FIG. 1 illustrating the chase in operative position over the data workpieces.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the chase illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the chase shown in open position.

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of the chase illustrated in FIG. 4 showing the imprinting elements secured in place.

FIGURE 6 is a side sectional view of the chase taken on the line 66 of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective of the chase illustrating the manner in which it is removably mounted.

FIGURE 8 is an electrical wiring diagram of the apparatus of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus of the invention is seen to comprise a suitable frame 10 having at its top a horizontal table 12 for supporting for lateral movement thereacross a continuous data workpiece 14 which comprises a series of form lengths 16, usually delineated by transverse lines of weakness 18, along which the forms may be separated. The forms in the example used herein are bank checks or deposit slips and are preprinted in continuous form with indicia common to all the deposit slips, such as the name and address of the bank, instructions to the customer and designated spaces to list the deposits being made. The name and account number of the customer are not preprinted in accordance with this invention, but are imprinted in predetermined quantities with the name and other indicia individual to each customer as required.

In the case of bank deposit slips, particularly, it is desirable that the customer make and retain a copy of the slip for his records. Hence the present invention contemplates the feeding of a plurality of superposed strips with the forms aligned and in register through the apparatus. To facilitate this, the present invention provides at the introductory side of the machine lateral guides 20 having a plurality of rollers or rods 22 over which the workstrips 14, 14a and 14b, for instance, may be led.

A carbon or other transfer strip is interposed between the deposit strip and the copy and this may be attached to the copy to travel therewith.

At the delivery side of the machine there is an inclined delivery table 24 having lateral guides 26 for guiding the strip or strips downward to a point where they may be folded transversely to form a stack or otherwise be disposed of.

To feed the strip 14 to and from imprinting position there are provided in the form of the invention herein illustrated two pairs of pinwheels 28 and 30, one pair of wheels 28 being at the introductory side of the machine while the pair of wheels 30 is located at the delivery side of the machine. A plurality of pins 32 are mounted on the wheels 28 and 30 and are shaped to engage marginal punch holes 34 in the strip to positively advance and control the position of the strip when there are a plurality of workstrips. The pins also keep the superposed strips in desired registry and alignment. The pairs of wheels 28 and 30 are spaced apart a determinate distance so that portions of the strip or strips between them will be held reasonably taut.

As seen in FIG. 1, the pairs of wheels 28 and 30 are coupled to each other by a suitable belt or chain 36 which engages with pulleys or sprockets 37 and 39 which are coaxial with the wheels 28 and 30 respectively so that they rotate in unison. The wheels 30 are driven by a change-gear drive designated generally as 35 which includes a gear 38 mounted coaxially with the wheels 30, the gear 38 being driven by a pair of removable and interchangeable gears 40 and 42 which are coaxial, and a gear 44 which is coaxial with a sprocket wheel 46 which in turn is driven by a chain 48. The gears 40 and 42, being interchangeable in the change-gear drive mechanism 35 by any suitable means for corresponding gears of different diameter, permit the apparatus to be adjusted for workpieces of different size, by feeding the strip a different linear distance with a given movement of the chain 48 which travels a fixed distance each time the feed-ing mechanism is actuated. The chain 48 engages a sprocket 50 mounted on the output shaft of a clutch 52, the input shaft of which has a sprocket 54 mounted thereon which is connected by means of the chain 56 to another sprocket 58 mounted on the output shaft of any suitable intermittent drive transmission 60. The transmission 60 is continuously driven by means of a pulley 62 driven by a belt 64 which engages a pulley 66 mounted on an electric motor 68.

Any suitable driving means for the pinwheels 28 and 30 may be substituted for that shown and described, suffice it to say at this place that the rotation of the pinwheels is interrupted momentarily and the strip 14 stops moving when the strip is in position to receive the imprint of the indicia individual to each customers deposit slip.

According to the present invention, the customers deposit slips (or checks) are imprinted by means of slugs each containing a line of printing type faces as shown herein. By way of example (see FIG. 5), there is a slug 66 for the name of the customer, a slug 67 for the street address and a slug 68 for the city and state in which the person resides. Also there is a slug 69 which carries a magnetic inch character recognition (MICR) number identifying the bank and/or branch thereof, and the customer.

These slugs are carried in a chase 70 which is pivotally mounted on a rod 72 carried by a bracket 74 secured on the rear portion of the table 12 so that it may be swung between a vertical position shown on FIGS. 4 and 5 in which its type carrying side is exposed and accessible to an operator, to a horizontal position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6 where its type carrying side faces and overlies the strip 14.

In this latter position the outer end 76 of the chase 70 rests upon a rigid block 78 secured to the front of the table 12. The block 78 has upwardly extending wings 80 between which the end 76 is placed and by which the chase is rigidly secured against lateral displacement. The wings are chamfered as at 82 to guide the end 76 between them.

The chase is secured in horizontal position against upward movement by a locking arm 83, pivoted at 84 on the block 78 and having an adjustable screw 86 engaging the top of the end 76. The locking arm 83 is held in locking position by a toggle comprising a link 88 pivotally mounted at 90 on the arm 83 and a link 92 pivotally mounted at 94 on a bracket secured to the block 78 and pivotally mounted to the link 88 at 96. The link 88 has an extension 98 forming a handle whereby the locking arm 83 may be swung to the position shown in FIG. 7 in which the end 76 clears it when the chase is lifted from a horizontal position. In locking position the pivot point 96 is in line with or slightly below a line passing through the pivot points 94 and 90 and therefore any upward movement of the locking arm 83 is prevented without first breaking the toggle joint by upward movement of the handle 98.

The type slugs are mounted on the chase so that they may be removed and replaced by others with ease and rapidity when changing from one imprinting order to another, as best seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the chase 70 is built up of a body portion 100 and brackets 102, 104 and 106 secured thereto by screws 108 but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the body portion 100 and the brackets could be formed as one integral piece. Since in the form shown the name and address type bars '66, 67 and 68 are spaced from the type bar 69, the chase as shown includes a divider'bar 110 secured to the body 100 by screws 112, the outer face of the divider bar .110 serving as an abutment against which the type bars are pressed. This pressure is produced by clamping bars 114 and 115, the inner surfaces of which engage the type bars while the outer surfaces are engaged by the ends of clamping screws 116 which are threaded in the brackets 102, 104 and 106 and are held in adjusted position by lock nuts 118. The screws are provided with finger pieces 120 to which a wrench may be applied if necessary.

As seen in FIG. 6, the chase further includes a pair of backing strips 122 and 124 secured to the underside of the body portion 100 such as by screws 126, the backing strips being available in different thicknesses to accommodateand support type bars of different depths. The clamping bars 114 and and the divider bar 110 are recessed to receive the backing strips 122 and 124.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the herein disclosed embodiment of the invention further includes an impact producing means which takes the form of a pair of solenoid operated strikers or hammers 126 and .128 each of which comprises a housing suitably secured to a frame portion of the machine and enclosing a suitable solenoid having its core or an extension thereof protruding through the upper end of the housing and terminating in a suitable striking head 130 and 132 respectively.

The striking units 126 and 128 are suitably mounted on a portion of the frame in position to have the haminers 130 and 132 underlie the type bars carried by the chase when the chase is in its operating position. As best seen in FIG. 6, the impact unit 126 has a hammer 130 which underlies the type bar slug 69 which carries the magnetic ink character recognition numberidentifying the bank and customer, and the striking unit 128 has a hammer 13-2 which underlies the remaining type bar slugs 66, 67 and 68 for identifying the customers name and address. Individual impact units are provided in this manner for the reason that it is frequently, if not usually, necessary to apply a different degree of pressure to the customer name and address slugs than to the MICR number slug in order to effect proper imprinting of these indicia on the checks.

A suitable means for carrying an image forming transfer material, such as a strip of carbon paper or inked ribbon 134, is interposed in operative position between the strip 14 and the slugs or printing elements carried by the chase 70. The transfer strip 134 is wound in a roll on a spool 136 suitably received in a bracket 138 mounted on a portion of the frame 10 of the machine. Guide rollers 140 and 142 guide the transfer strip for movement along the path of travel of the strip 14 and immediately thereover in a direction opposite to that of movement of the strip 14. The carbon strip passes between a feed roller 1'44 mounted on a bracket 146 and an idler roller 148 carried by a support 150 which is pivotally mounted as at 151 on the bracket 146 and is urged into engagement with the roller 144 by means of springs 152 secured to the bracket 146. The feed roller 144 is driven by means of a chain 145' suitably positioned by an idler sprocket 147 to engage a sprocket coaxially mounted with the inwheels 28, so that the transfer strip 134 advances only when the strip 14 advances. The transfer strip is taken-up on a suitable spool 154 carried by an extension of the bracket 146, which also supports a constant torque take-up motor 156 for driving the spool 154.

The apparatus is also provided with a control panel 1160 conveniently located for access by an operator for controlling the various operations of the apparatus described hereinafter with regard to FIG. 8. The control panel supports a counter 162 which is preferably though not necessarily of the descending type and which is actuated by an element of the drive mechanism whereby a predetermined number of checks to be imprinted is set on the counter which, upon completion of an imprinting run, operates by means hereinafter more fully described to automatically stop further operation of the apparatus. The control panel also includes a motor speed control dial 164 for controlling the speed of operation of the apparatus, a pair of control dials 166 and 168 for individual- 1y varying the impact pressure to the striking units 126 and 128 by means more fully described below, and a plurality of switches with indicator lights for starting and stopping the various actuating components of the machine.

The remaining electric components and controls, together with a description of the operation of the device, can best be understood by reference to FIGS 1 and 8.

Referring firstly to the wiring diagram of FIG. 8, the ap- 6 by the numeral 178 to the motor 68 (FIG. 1) through a motor off-on switch 177 and a motor clutch switch 179 which respectively energizes the motor 68 and energizes a motor clutch for effecting variable speed control over the motor by means of the potentiometer 164, these latter components illustrated in FIG. 1. The details of wiring of these components form no part of the present invention and therefore a complete explanation thereof is not deemed necessary to an understanding of the invention.

A pair of variable transformers 180 and 182, one for each of the impact units 128 and 126 respectively, are provided, the autotransformer 189 being connected to the main lines 172 and 174 by a pair of lines 184 and 186 respectively. The line 184 is interrupted by a manual switch 188, which is also shown on the control panel of FIG. 1 and serves to independently control the energization of the variable transformer 180. A similar pair of lines 190 and 192 connect the autotransformer 182 to the main lines, the line 190 being interrupted by a manual switch 194 for independently controlling the energization of this autotransformer. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the elements 180 and 182 may if desired be any type of electrical component which serves to adjustably transform a fixed input voltage or amperage to a desired output voltage or amperage.

Referring again to FIG. 8, the counter 162 mentioned above is seen to include a solenoid 196 which, when actuated, steps the counter back one digit. The details of this operation are well known to those skilled in the art and need not be further described. The solenoid 196 is energized through a line 198 connected to the main line 174 and a line 200 which is connected to the main line 172 through a normally open microswitch 202. The switch 202 is provided with a follower 205 which is actuated by a cam 204 which is seen in FIG. 1 to be mounted on the drive shaft of the chain 48 so that cam 204 is intermittently driven. It will be apparent that with each revolution of the sprocket 50 in response to operation of the intermittent drive mechanism 60, the earn 204 will momentarily close the switch 202 to energize the solenoid 196, thereby stepping the counter 162 back by one number. By coordinating the distance of travel. of the strip 14 with the operation of the intermittent drive mechanism 60 through the change gear drive 35, the strip 14 may be caused to move one form length for each revolution of the intermittent drive mechanism 60 whereby the counter 162 in turn counts the number of forms still remaining to be imprinted.

The main line 174 is connected to a solenoid 206, which has an element 208 (FIG; 1) whereby the solenoid 206 is effective to engage or disengage the clutch 52 depending upon whether the solenoid 206 is energized or deenergized. The circuit for the solenoid 206 includes a line 210 which is connected to the main line 172 through one set of contacts and a switch 212 of a locking relay generally designated by the numeral 214. It will be apparent that when the solenoid 216 of the relay 214 is energized, the switch 212 is closed to complete the circuit through the clutch solenoid 206 to engage the clutch 52 thereby effects a driving connection between the intermittent drive transmission 60 and the above described feeding mechanism commencing with the sprocket 50 and the chain 48.

The locking relay 214 is preferably of the type in which the solenoid core is moved in both directions by an electrical impulse, so that the switches of the relay are closed or opened in response to these impulses. The solenoid 216 is energized in one of two ways, either by manually actuating the push button 218 (see also FIG. 1) which closes a circuit including line 220 connected to main line 172 and the line 222 connected to main line 174. Thus by actuation of push button 218, the solenoid 216 is moved in both switch closing and switch opening directions.

The relay 214 is also actuated by an impulse to the solenoid 216 through a line 224 which is connected to the main line 172 through a momentary contact switch 226 located within the counter 162. The switch 226 closes the circuit momentarily each time the switch blade brushes pass the contact 227 while moving from the full line position to the dotted line position and back. This switch is actuated by appropriate mechanism to move to the dotted line position when the counter is set at a predetermined number, and to move back to the full line position when the counter reaches zero.

The other end of the line 224 is connected to the solenoid 216 through a switch 228 which is part of the relay 214, and a line 230. This circuit is completed through the line 222 to the main line 174. It is thus apparent that when the switch 238 is closed, movement of the switch blade of the counter switch 226 across the momentary contact 227 will impulse the solenoid 216 to open the switches 228 and 212 of the relay 214 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

Each of the autotransformers 180 and 182 is provided with identical circuitry for its corresponding impact means 128 and 126 which includes a chase safety switch, a strip feed safety switch and a cam actuated operating switch. More particularly, a line 232 is connected to the output side of the autotransformer 180 and is connected on the movable blade 234 of a normally open microswitch 236 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7) which is conveniently mounted on the front face of the block 78 in position so that an extension 238 of the chase outer end 76 depresses an actuator 240 when the chase is properly closed and locked in position. Thus the switch 236 functions to prevent operation of the impact units 126 and 128 unless the chase is secured in its proper operating position.

From the switch 236 a line 242 connects with a normally closed microswitch 244 which has a movable blade 24-6 which closes the circuit through a line 248 to the impact unit 128. The mic-roswitch 244, as shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on the machine frame to be actuated by a follower 258 which is engaged by a cam 252 mounted on the input shaft of the intermittent drive transmission 68. By proper adjustment of the cam 252, actuation of the impact producing means is coordinated with the intermittent strip advancement so that the impactunits are actuaed at the instant that the strip comes to rest.

Referring again to FIG. 8 the circuit to the impact unit 128 is completed through a line 254 which is connected through one of the movable blades 256 of a microswitch 258 (FIG. 1) which is mounted on the solenoid 286 in position to be actuated by an element 259 connected to the solenoid core. The switch 258 is constructed and arranged such that when the solenoid 206 is deenergized and the clutch 52 disengaged, the switch blade 256 is in open position so that the impact unit 128 cannot be actuated even though the cam 252 continues to rotate and the blade 246 of the switch 244 continues to intermittently close after the paper feeding has been interrupted. The impact unit 128 circuit is completed from the switch 258 by a line 260 which connects back to the autotransformer 180.

An identical circuit from the autotransformer 182 to the impact unit 126 is indicated by corresponding reference numerals in the 300 series, and a detailed description of this circuit is therefore not deemed necessary.

A typical cycle of operation of the foregoing apparatus is substantially as follows. Let it be assumed that proper alphabet slugs 66, 67 and 68 and a corresponding number slug 69 for an individual customer has been properly inserted into the chase 70, and that a suitable strip 14 of checks or deposit slips has been properly positioned on the table 12 with the feed holes 34 thereof engaged with the pairs of pinwheels 28 and 30 and that the chase has been lowered and locked in position by the toggle lever 83-98. The chase extension 238 closes the safety switch 236 in the circuit to the impact units 126 and 128.

The circuit breaker 176 is closed, the motor switch 177 and the motor clutch switch 179 are both turned on, and the potentiometer 164 is adjusted to .drive the motor 68 at the desired rate of speed in accordance with the number checks per minute which it is desired to imprint. The control dials 166 and 168, which control the intensity of electrical output from their respective variable transformers are adjusted so that the impact means will strike the paper with a force necessary to produce the desired impression, this force varying in accordance with the number of interleaved sheets in the strip and whether the impact unit is striking alphabetical or numerical slugs. The switches 188 and 194 are closed to energize the variable transformers. The counter 162 is manually set to the desired number and this operation shifts the switch element 226 from the solid line position shown in FIG. 8 to the dotted line position. Nothing occurs as the switch element 226 brushes past the contact 227 since the circuit including line 224 is open at switch 228. The machine is now ready to operate.

By momentarily depressing the start-stop button 218, the solenoid 216 of relay 214 is energized through the circuit including line 228, push button switch 218 and line 222 which closes switches 212 and 228. Closing of switch 212 energizes the clutch solenoid 286 through the line 210 and the main line 174. Energization of the clutch solenoid 216 closes the clutch safety switch 258 in the circuits to the impact units and also engages the clutch 52 to effect a driving connection between the intermittent drive transmission and the paper feeding mechanism. Since the change speed mechanism 35 has been adjusted to feed the paper strip so that one form length along the strip is delivered to printing position each time the intermittent drive transmission makes one revolution, the strip is fed intermittently so that a form on the strip comes torest in printing position each time that the intermittent drive mechanism stops the movement of the strip feeding mechanism.

The adjustment of the apparatus is such that each time that the strip comes to rest the cam 252 closes the switch 244 to energize the impact units 128 and 126 to cause the hammers 132 and thereof to strike the underside of the paper and transfer an impression from the carbon strip to the uppermost form of the strip 14. Additional forms are imprinted as desired by interleaved carbon strips.

Substantially simultaneously with the operation of the impact producing means, cam 2G4 momentarily closes the switch 202 to energize the solenoid 196 of the counter 162 whereby the counter is stepped back by one digit. The operation caused by the cams 252 and 204 continues uninterruptedly until the desired number of checks has been delivered to the printing station by the intermittent drive transmission 60 and imprinted by the means just described.

At the moment when the solenoid 196 of the counter 162 steps the counter back to its zero position, the switch blade 226 is caused to move from the dotted line position back to the solid line position. As the switch blade brushes past the contact 227, a momentary circuit is completed from the main line 172 through switch 226, the line 224, the still closed switch 228, and the line 230 to the solenoid 216 of the relay 214, and then through the line 222 to the main line 174. This circuit energizes the solenoid 216 of the relay 214 to cause the solenoid to open the switches 228 and 212. Opening of the switch 212 breaks the circuit to the clutch solenoid 206 whereupon the clutch 52 is disengaged and the driving connection to the feeding mechanism is broken. Even though the motor 68 and the intermittent drive transmission 60 and cam 252 all continue to operate, the impact units cease to operate since the clutch solenoid 206 also opens the clutch safety switch 258.

The apparatus is now in condition to receive either a different chase or different type slugs in the same chase whereupon the foregoing'operation is repeated. It is therefore apparent that it is not necessary to completely shut down the apparatus when changing from slugs containing the indicia of one customer to those of another.

If it should be desired to feed the paper strip either while the chase is open or after the chase is closed to visually inspect the printed forms before an actual run is commenced, this may be achieved without setting the counter by merely actuating the start-stop button in rapid succession to alternately energize and deenergize the clutch solenoid 206, since each time the start-stop button is actuated the relay switches 212 and 228 are either opened or closed. In this way also the operation of the apparatus may be terminated in the middle of a run without disturbing the counter setting, and may be recommenced at the point at which it was stopped and thereafter completed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that alternative arrangements may be provided in the electrical components of the apparatus which will effect the operation thereof Without departing from the principles of the invention. For example, the cam 252 which operates the impact units 126 and 128 could be mounted on the drive shaft for the sprocket 50 which drives the chain 48, so that the impact units 126 and 128 cannot function unless the feeding mechanism is also in operation. This would eliminate the necessity for the clutch safety switch 258.

Also, by way of example, the clutch solenoid 206 could be wired in series with a continuous off-on switch in the counter in place of the momentary contact switch 226, whereby the clutch solenoid 206 would be deenergized directly by the counter rather than through the intermediary of the locking relay 214. This, however, would eliminate the feature of operating the strip feeding mechanism without having first manually set the counter to a predetermined number.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings that there is provided an imprinting apparatus which achieves the foregoing objects and advantages of the invention. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described and shown herein, which is intended to illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the principles of the invention and which is susceptible to modification of form, size, location and arrangement of parts, but is intended to encompass all such modifications and equivalents thereof as may be deemed to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure of Letters Patent is:

'1. Apparatus for high speed printing of identical indicia onto a plurality of forms which are connected together as a continuous strip, said apparatus comprising a frame including stationary support means upon which the strip is adapted to move, the support means having means defining a printing station, means mounted on the frame for feeding the strip along said support means to cause the individual forms to successively register with the printing station, a chase having means for removably holding a type printing element therein, means mounting the chase on said frame adjacent the printing station for movement between a printing position in which a printing element held in the chase is normally disposed in substantial alignment with the support means and an accessible position in which the printing element is disposed away from the support means and is accessible to an operator for manual removal from the chase, momentary impact producing means mounted on said frame adjacent the printing station but on the opposite side of the stationary support from the chase, said impact producing means including a striking member movable toward and away from the chase a distance suflicient respectively to strike the strip and forcibly engage it in momentary printing contact with the printing element and to release the strip from said printing contact for movement thereof by said feeding means while the printing element is held in said printing position, and means for repetitively actuating said impact producing means independently of movement of the chase and in timed coordination with operation of said feeding means to cause the striking member to operate in synchronism with the successive registrations of the individual forms with the printing station whereby a plurality of identical forms are printed from the printing element without movement of the latter.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the chase is mounted in overlying relationship to the support means and in position to move upward-1y toward one side of the support means to expose the printing elements, and the impact producing means is mounted beneath the sup port means, the means defining the printing station comprising an aperture formed in the support means through which the striking member strikes the underside of the strip to cause printing from the printing element on the upper surface thereof when the impact producing means is actuated.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including strip means carrying image transfer material on one face thereof, said strip means being positioned adjacent the support means such that the face carrying the transfer material is adjacent the strip of forms whereby the transfer material is transferred to the upper farm of the strip of forms when the striking member strikes the underside of the strip of forms.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further including means for feeding said transfer material carrying strip means along a path of movement contiguous to the path of movement of the strip of forms, the extent of movement of the striking member being sufficient to permit both the transfer material strip and the strip of forms to move between the striking member and the printing element between successive actuations of the impact producing means and while the printing element is held in said printing position.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including means for locking the chase in said printing position to prevent displacement of .the type printing element during the printing on and feeding of the strip of forms While printing a plurality of identical forms.

*6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said chase mounting means comprises hinge means for pivotally connecting the chase to the frame, the hinge means including a quick detachable connection whereby the chase may readily be completely removed from its mounting means and another chase substituted therefor.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said chase has a pair of individual spaced apart means for releasably holding a plurality of printing elements therein, and there are individual spaced apart impact producing means, respectively positioned to cooperate with print-ing elements held by said individual holding: means, and means for adjustably controlling each impact producing means individually to vary the force with which the striking member of each impact producing means strikes the strip.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including means for operating the feeding means intermittently to 'feed the strip of forms in form length increments along said support means, said means for actuating the impact producing means being operatively connected to and synchronized with said means for intermittently operating the feeding means to cause actuation of the impact producing means at the instant that the strip of forms comes to rest.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for operating the feeding means include-s adjustable means for varying the distance traveled by the strip with each successive incremental movement thereof by said feeding means whereby forms of varying length in the longitudinal direction of the strip may be printed.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including presettable counting means responsive to successive registrations of the forms with the printing station, said counting means including means for terminating operation of the feeding means and the impact producing means when a preset number of forms has been printed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12 Auer 101--288 X Bnaun 10119 Marsh et a1. 1011-9 Ehrhard 101-57 Peterson 197-14 Weingart 10168 Weingart 10168 DAVID KLEIN, Primary Examiner. 10 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Examiner.

NATHANIEL A. HUMPHRIES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR HIGH SPEED PRINTING OF IDENTICAL INDICIA ONTO A PLURALITY OF FORMS WHICH ARE CONNECTED TOGETHER AS A CONTINUOUS STRIP, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A FRAME INCLUDING STATIONARY SUPPORT MEANS UPON WHICH THE STRIP IS ADAPTED TO MOVE, THE SUPPORT MEANS HAVING MEANS DEFINING A PRINTING STATION, MEANS MOUNTED ON THE FRAME FOR FEEDING THE STRIP ALONG SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO CAUSE THE INDIVIDUAL FORMS TO SUCCESSIVELY REGISTER WITH THE PRINTING STATION, A CHASE HAVING MEANS FOR REMOVABLY HOLDING A TYPE PRINTING ELEMENT THEREIN, MEANS MOUNTING THE CHASE ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT THE PRINTING STATION FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A PRINTING POSITION IN WHICH A PRINTING ELEMENT HELD IN THE CHASE IS NORMALLY DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE SUPPORT MEANS AND AN ACCESSIBLE POSITION IN WHICH THE PRINTING ELEMENT IS DISPOSED AWAY FROM THE SUPPORT MEANS AND IS ACCESSIBLE TO AN OPERATOR FOR MANUAL REMOVAL FROM THE CHASE, MOMENTARY IMPACT PRODUCING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT THE PRINTING STATION BUT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STATIONARY SUPPORT FROM THE CHASE, SAID IMPACT PRODUCING MEANS INCLUDING A STRIKING MEMBER MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE CHASE A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT RESPECTIVELY TO STRIKE THE STRIP AND FORCIBLY ENGAGE IT IN MOMENTARY PRINTING CONTACT WITH THE PRINTING ELEMENT AND TO RELEASE THE STRIP FROM SAID PRINTING CONTACT FOR MOVEMENT THEREOF BY SAID FEEDING MEANS WHILE THE PRINTING ELEMENT IS HELD IN SAID PRINTING POSITION, AND MEANS FOR REPETITIVELY ACTUATING SAID IMPACT PRODUCING MEANS INDEPENDENTLY OF MOVEMENT OF THE CHASE AND IN TIMED COORDINATION WITH OPERATION OF SAID FEEDING MEANS TO CAUSE THE STRIKING MEMBER TO OPERATE IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE SUCCESSIVE REGISTRATIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL FORMS WITH THE PRINTING STATION WHEREBY A PLURALITY OF IDENTICAL FORMS ARE PRINTED FROM THE PRINTING ELEMENT WITHOUT MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER. 